Spring air-gun.



c. F. LEFEVER.

SPRING AIR GUN.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1913 1,136,4m Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHBET 1.

THE NORRIS PETERS C0,.FHOTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTUN D. C

C. F. LEFEVER.

SPRING AIR-GUN.

APPLlCATlON FILED JUNE 21, 1913.

' Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

3 SHEETS-78113111 2.

77517? (Js's as f ma THE NORRIS PETER! CO., PHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTON, D.C.

c. F. LEI-EVER. SPRING AIR GUN.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, I9I3.

1,136,470. Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

3 SHEETS-11321 3.

7 51)? 6-85 65 I [72 re far pnrrnn STATES PATENT @FFIQE.

CHARLES E. LEFEVER, 0F PLYllIOUTI-I, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO DAISYIVIAINUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, OF PLYMOUTH, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OFIlIICHIG-AN.

SPRING AIR-GUN.

Application filed June 21, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES F. LEFEVER, acitizen of the United States of America, residing at Plymouth, in thecounty of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Spring Air-Guns, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to air guns and comprises various features ofconstruction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the gun; Fig. 2 is asimilar view partly in longitudinal section; Fig. 3 is a view similar toFig. 2, showing the parts in a different position of adjustment; Fig. 4:is a sectional perspective view of the power storage mechanism; Fig. 5is a cross section thereof on line g -'y Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a section online mm Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a perspective View showing the barrel andstock detached; Fig. 8 is a plan view of a portion of the barreldetached; Fig. 9 is a section showing the arrangement of the triggersafe mechanism; Fig. 10 is a horizontal section through the barrel andspring abutment; Fig. 11 is an elevation showing the means for releasingthe spring from the abutment; Fig. 12 is an end elevation of the barrel;and Fig. 13 is a longitudinal section through the actuating handle forthe pump mechanism.

A is the stock of the gun, B the frame and C the barrel.

D is an actuating member for storing the power, which is slidablelongitudinally of the barrel similar to the action of a so-called pumpgun.

It is one of the objects of the invention to obtain a knock-downconstruction in which the barrel may be separated from the stock andframe without the detachment or disarrangement of any of the parts ofthe mechanism. To this end all of the mechanism employed in storing thepower is permanently mounted upon the barrel, the trigger, sear and safealone being upon the frame. This permits of taking down the gun bymerely removing a single pin or fastening device and then sliding thebarrel out from engagement with the frame.

Take-down featm-e.In detail, the barrel C has arranged therein anabutment E which engages a slot F in the upper side of the barrel, andis provided with a downwardlyr Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 29, 1915. Serial No. 775,092.

projecting ear E extending through a slot in the lower side of thebarrel. This ear E has a segmental bearing E on its forward side whichregisters with alined apertures G and G in the opposite sides of theframe B.

H is a tapered pin passing through the alined apertures G G and providedwith a threaded end H which engages correspond ing threads in theaperture G.

In rear of the abutment is a portion C of the barrel whichtelescopically engages the frame and is provided on its rear end withwedge-shaped bearings G which on gage a cross pin I in the rear of theframe. Thus when the barrel is slid into engagement with the frame, thebearings C will pass into engagement with the pin I, and at the sametime the segmental bearing IE will register with the apertures G and G.The tapered pin H is then inserted and by screwing the threaded portionof this pin into the aperture G the tapered portion will be drawnagainst the segmental bearing E forcing the barrel slightly rearward andthe wedge-shaped bearings G into firm engagement with the pin I. Thusthe barrel and frame will be securely fastened and the wedge-shapedhearings will take up all lost motion.

Power storage mccham'sm.As above stated, all of the mechanism forstoring the ppwer is mounted upon and detachable with the barrel. Thismechanism, in detail, comprises the slide or hand-grip I) which ismounted upon a rod J arranged parallel to the barrel and beneath thesame. This rod is preferably secured in position by being provided atits rear end with an inwardly-bent portion J engaging an aperture in thebarrel and notched at J to form a locking engagement therewith. Theforward end of the rod J engages a bifurcated clip J which has a socketportion for receiving the rod and a pair of wings for embracing thebarrel. Intermediate this portion is a clamping screw J*, by means ofwhich the parts may be securely held in position. The hand-grip D isconnected with a toggle lever adapted to actuate the plunger against thetension of its spring. This toggle lever preferably comprises links Kand K of sheet metal, and bifurcated to embrace the rod J and tonormally conceal the same. The forward link K is pivotally attached at Kto the hand-grip I), while the rear link K is provided with aninwardly-projecting portion K which is ful-- of the pin are rounded offto conform to the cross section of the barrel. There is also provided akey L which engages a central slot in the abutment and a notch in thepin L, so as to hold the latter both from lateral displacement and fromrotation, while a laterally-projecting portion L on said key closes theslot in the abutment when the parts are in position. The link K, as justdescribed, forms in effect a bent lever having a laterally-extendingportion K and the main portion which extends parallel to the barrel.Pivotally securedto this laterally-extending portion K is a link Mnormally in acute angular relation to the portion K and provided at itsfree end with a cross pin M. Both the link M and portion K extend into aslot in the lower side of the barrel, which permits of longitudinalmovement, while the pin M engages with a notched bearing N in theplunger shank N within the barrel. The pin M also eX- tends sufficientlyto contact with the lower portion of the barrel upon opposite sides ofthe slot, thereby forming a guide which prevents disengagement from thebarrel when out ofengagement with the notch N. The shank N is bifurcatedto embrace the abutment E and the bifurcated portion K of the link K andextends forward to the plunger N". This plunger fits a portion of thebarrel constituting the air compression chamber, and a spring 0 isarranged be tween the plunger and the abutment E.

With the parts just described, whenever the hand-grip D is drawnrearward on the rod J, the links K and K will be bent downward owing tothe fact that the pin K connecting said links is below the center lineof the pivots K and L. This will cause the toggle links formed by theportion K of the link K and the link M to be straightened, and in sodoing the shank N is forced backward by the pin M, drawing rearward theplunger and compressing the spring 0, as shown in Fig. 3. During themovement the straightening of the toggles constantly increases the powerof the leverage so that the spring is compressed with comparative ease.At the completion of the rearward movement the shank N engages with thesear which holds it from return when the hand-grip D is moved for ward.hen the hand-grip is returned to its forward position, the links Kand Kare prevented from dropping downward again by a lock formed byregistering indentations therein, as shown at K For convenience inassembling and disassembling the parts of the mechanism, pro-- vision ismade for relieving the tension of the spring from the abutment when thelatter is to be removed. This is accomplished by forming an aperture Pin the barrel, and also apertures P inthe shank, which may be registeredwith saidapertures P. This will permit'of inserting a pin P into theapertures P and through a recess P in the abutment, locking the shank tothe spring and relieving the pressure of the spring on the abutment sothat the latter may be readily detached.

The trigger Q is pivctally mounted within the frame B upon the pin 1,and is preferably formed of sheet metal bent to form a bifurcatedbearing upon said pin. To prevent accidental discharge of the gun whenthe hand-grip D has not beenfully returned, a trigger safety device isarranged within the frame, preferably consisting of a lever member Rpivoted at R and under tension of a spring R The rear end of this leverisbent to extend laterally at R and in one position of adjustment itslateral extension is in the path of lugs Q on the trigger, which willprevent the latter from movement. Thus as shown in Fig. 9 the forwardend of the spring B is rigidly secured to the lever R, while theopposite end of the spring is arranged beneath the pin I. When the partsareas shown in full lines in Fig. 9 the spring R is slightly bowed,since the pin M bears upon the forward end of the lever B, holding theforward end of the lever downwardly suiiicient to raise thelaterally-bent portion R out of the path of the lugs Q and the trigger,but during the power storing operation the pin M passes into engagementwith the cutaway portion of the lever B, which allows the spring tostraighten, thereby. lifting the forward end of the lever, which willlower the. laterallye-Xtending portion R into the path of the lugs Q, asshown in dotted lines in Fig. 9. When, however, the handgrip is returnedto normal position the pin M will, as before stated, bear upon the leverB so as to move it out ofthe path of the lugs Q, thereby releasing thetrigger. The sear S is formed of a member separate from the trigger andprovided with a hook S which engages the bearing N. A single spring Tbears against the scar and abuts against the end of the stock, beingheld from displacement by engaging a socket T insaid stock and a lug Ton the sear. V

The frame of the gun is formed of sheet metal bent into a U-shapedsection having a cylindrical top portion and parallel sides, whichforwardly of the trigger guard terminate in inwardly anddownwardly-extending flanges, the latter embracing the link K. In rearof the trigger guard the parallel sides are bent inwardly as at a (seeFig. 5). The trigger guard U is also formed of sheet metal and isseparable from the frame B, being engaged therewith by having a portionembraced by the downwardly-extending flanges and notched to engage a pinU The rear of the guard has outwardly bent lugs U resting upon theflanges (f.

V is an adjustable sight formed by a sheet metal member havingdownturned lugs V forming a pivot bearing for a pin V while the framehas upwardly struck flanges V between which the member V is placed andto which the pin V is attached.

V is a set screw engaging the member V and bearing against the frame andV is an upwardly-bent portion of the member V notched to form the sight.A spring V is attached to move the plate V in one direction, while theset screw adjusts it in the opposite direction. Thus, by merely turningthe set screw, the notched sight V may be raised or lowered.

The gun constructed as described is inexpensive to manufacture andthoroughly mechanical in all its details, while in appearance it closelysimulates the powder pump 'un.

c What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a gun, the combination with a barrel and frame detachablytelescopically engaging each other, of a power storage mechanism mountedupon and detachable with said barrel.

2. In a gun, the combination with a barrel and frame detachablytelescopically engaging each other, of a power storage mechanism mountedon said barrel and de tachable therewith, and a scar mounted on saidframe for cooperation with said power storage mechanism.

8. In a gun, the combination with a barrel and frame telescopicallyengaging each other, of a power storage mechanism com prising a plunger,a compression spring, an abutment and a lever mechanism for retractingthe plunger and compressing the spring, all mounted upon said barrel andattachable and detachable as a unit therewith;

4. In a gun, the combination with a barrel, of a frame having acylindrical socket for telescopically receiving the end portion of thebarrel, a lug projecting downward from said barrel, spaced flanges insaid socket member between which said lug is inserted, and a pin passingthrough said spaced flanges and engaging a bearing on said lug to retainsaid barrel in engagement With said frame.

5. In a gun, the combination with a barrel, of a frame member having acylindrical socket for receiving the end portion of said barrel, aspring and abutment in said barrel having a downwardly-extending lug,spaced flanges on said socket between which said lug is inserted, and across pin engaging apertures in said spaced flanges and having a bearingon said lug.

6. In a gun, a barrel telescopically engag ing the frame and stockportion, a plunger Within said barrel, a spring for said plunger, anabutment for said spring, mechanism for retracting said plunger andcompressing said spring, said parts constituting an organized unitmounted on the barrel, and attachable and detachable as such from theframe.

7. A gun, comprising a stock, a sheet metal frame member secured to saidstock and providing a cylindrical socket, a trigger and sear mounted insaid frame, a barrel telescopically engaging said cylindrical socket,power storage mechanism mounted as an organized unit upon said barreland attachable and detachable therewith from said cylindrical socket,and means for holding said barrel and frame in engagement, with saidpower storage mechanism in operative relation to said trigger and sear.

8. In a gun, the combination with a stock, of a frame formed of aU-shaped sheet metal member embracing and. projecting forward from saidstock, its upper portion constituting a cylindrical socket, a barreltelescopically engaging the cylindrical socket portion of said frame, alever mechanism mounted as an organized unit on said barrel andinsertible therewith between the sides of the U-shaped portion of saidframe, and a pin engaging a bearing between said barrel and levermechanism for retaining the barrel in engagement with said frame.

9. In a gun, the combination with a stock, of a frame formed of sheetmetal fashioned to have a semi-cylindrical top portion, @parallel sideportions and inwardly and downwardly projecting portions forming acontracted downwardly-opening slot, a bar rel telescopically engagingsaid frame and bearing against the cylindrical top portion thereof, alever mechanism on said barrel extending in between said flanges, asecuring pin passing through said frame intermediate said barrel andlever mechanism, and a bearing on said barrel for engagement with saidpin to retain the barrel in engagement with said frame.

10. In a gun, the combination with a stock, of a frame formed of sheetmetal having a semi-cylindrical top portion, parallel side portions andinwardly and downwardly ex tending flanges from the forward portion ofsaid side portions forming a downwardly opening contracted slot,abutting flanges bent inward from said parallel side portions in rear ofsaid downwardly-extending flanges and forming a bottom for the framehaving an aperture therein, a barrel engaging the socket portion of saidframe, a lever .mechanism on said barrel engaging the space between saiddownwardly-extending flanges, a trigger in said frame extending throughthe slot in said abutting flanges .and a trigger guard secured betweensaid downwardly-extending flanges;

11. In a gun, the combination with a stock, of a frame formed of sheetmetal bent to form a semi-cylindrical top portion, parallel sideportions and inwardly and downwardly bent flanges from the forwardporhaving a rounded top, parallel sides and inwardly and downwardly bentflanges providing a contracted downwardly opening slot, inwardly-bentabutting flanges in rear of said downwardly-extending flanges aperturedfor the passage of the trigger, a hollow trigger guard struck up fromsheet metal having its forward end embraced by said downwardly-extendingflanges and its rear end having a hooked engagement with said abuttingflanges, and upwardly-struck ears on the top of said frame forming abearing for the sight.

13. In a gun, the combination with a barrel, of power storage means, aguide extending longitudinally of said barrel with which said actuatingmember is slidably engaged, and a hollow link connecting said actuatingmember with the power storage means, embracing and concealing said guidewhen in normal position.

'l l. In a gun, the combination with a barrel, of power storage means,an actuating member slidable longitudinally of said barrel, a guide uponwhich said actuating member is mounted, extending parallel to thelongitudinal axis of said barrel, and a connection between saidactuating member and power storage means embracing and concealing saidguide in normal position.

15. In a gun, the combination with a barrel, of a power storageactuating member slidable longitudinally of said barrel, power storagemechanism, a guide arranged parallel to said barrel upon which saidactuating member slides, a frame for said barrel having spaceddownwardly-extending flanges, and a hollow connection between saidactuating member and power storage mocha nism embracing and concealingsaid guide, and in normal position forming a tapering extension of theframe. I

16. In a gun, the combination with a barrel, of a power storageactuating member slidable longitudinally of said barrel, a guide forsaid actuating member extending parallel to said barrel, and a hollowbreakdown lever connection between said actuating member and themechanism actuated thereby, embracing and concealing said guide innormal position.

17. In a gun, the combination with a barrel, of a plunger therein, aspring for actuating said plunger, toggle levers for compressing saidspring,an actuating member slidable longitudinally of said barrel, and aguide for saidjactuating member parallel to said barrel, said togglelevers being hollow and in normal position concealing said guide.

18. In a gun, thecombination with a bar rel and frame with which saidbarrel is telescopically engaged, of a spring within said barrel, anabutment for said spring, and securing means for said barrel within saidframe engaging said abutment.

19. I11 a gun, the combination with a barrel, of a frame with-which saidbarrel is telescopically engaged, a spring within said barrel, anabutment forsaid spring having a downwardly-extending lug with a notchedbearing therein, and a securing pin for said barrel in said frameengaging the notched bearing in said lu r V 20. In a gun, the.combination with a barrel, of a spring abutment therein insertiblethrough a slot in one side of the barrel .and having a lug projectingthrough the opposite side of said barrel, a frame with which said barrelis telescopically engaged, and a securing pin for said barrel in saidframe engaging said downwardly-extending ing on said abutment.

21. In a gun, the combination with a barrel, of a flat spring abutmentinsertible through a slot in one side of said barrel and having ashouldered engagement with an aperture in the opposite side thereof, anda bifurcated spring-compressing lever embracing and pivotally secured tosaid abutment.

22. In a gun, the combination with a barrel, of a fiat spring abutmentinser'tible through an aperture in one side of said barrel, aspring-compressing lever pivoted to said abutment and bifurcated toembrace the same, and a bifurcated plunger shank embracing said abutmentand bifurcated lever. V V

23. In a gun, the combination with a barrel, of a flat spring abutmentinsertible through an aperture in one side of said barrel, aspring-compressing lever fulcrumed on said abutment, and a cross pinforming the fulcrum for said lever and an anchor for said abutment. V

24. In a gun, the combination with a barrel having intersectinglongitudinal and cross slots in one side thereof, of a flat springabutment insertible through one of said slots, a spring-compressinglever fulcrumed upon said abutment, and a pin forming the fulcrum forsaid lever extending transversely through said abutment and engageabletherewith in said intersecting slots.

25. In a gun, the combination with a barrel having intersectinglongitudinal and cross slots in the upper side thereof, of a flat springabutment insertible through the longitudinal slot, a bifurcatedspring-compressing lever embracing said abutment and also engaging saidlongitudinal slot, and a cross pin forming a pivot for said lever andanchor for said abutment engaging said cross slot.

26. In a gun, the combination with a barrel, having a longitudinal and across slot in the upper side thereof, of a fiat spring abutmentinsertible through said longitudinal slot, a spring-compressing leverextending through a slot in the bottom of said barrel and bifurcated toembrace said abutment, and a pin forming a fulcrum for said lever andanchor for said abutment, extending transversely therethrough andengaging said cross slot.

27. In a gun, the combination with a barrel, of a frame having acylindrical socket for telescopically receiving the end portion of thebarrel, a tapered seat for the end of the barrel in said socket, a lugprojecting downward from said barrel, spaced flanges in said socketmember, between which said lug is inserted, and a tapered pin passingthrough apertures in said spaced flanges and engaging a bearing on saidlug to force the latter and the barrel to its tapered seat.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES F. LEFEVER.

Witnesses:

JAMES P. BARRY, DELBERT COLLINS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O.

